Winner: Nathan Sharpe
Wallabies and Western Force forward Nathan Sharpe has received the 2012 John Eales Medal at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Sharpe became the second player - alongside George Smith - to receive the award for a second time after the lock first took out the medal in 2007.
The 34-year-old polled 259 votes, 24 ahead of his nearest rival David Pocock and 88 ahead of last year's Under 20s top player, Michael Hooper.
In addition to being named the 2012 John Eales Medallist, Sharpe also took out Australia's Choice - Wallabies Player of the Year and Spirit of Rugby - Nick Farr-Jones Award, with RugbyWA Chairman Russel Perry commended Sharpe on the tributes.
"On behalf of RugbyWA, the Emirates Western Force and the WA rugby community, I would like to congratulate Nathan on a fantastic effort and consistent performances that have led to him claiming the John Eales Medal," he said.
"Tonight's award is another deserved accolade for an outstanding athlete who has always given his all on the rugby field, whether representing his state or country.
"To receive two awards - one voted by his peers and another by the fans - demonstrates the high esteem in which Nathan is held in Australian rugby.
"As for the Spirit of Rugby Award, you couldn't find a more deserving recipient. For someone to postpone retirement on two occasions for his country and go on to arguably the best form of his career speaks volumes for the measure of the man.
"I would again like to congratulate Nathan on these outstanding achievements and wish him and his Wallaby teammates all the best for their upcoming European tour."
The 2012 John Eales Medal caps off an incredible career for the 112-Test veteran who has also received the 2002 Rookie of the Year Award and the 2007 John Eales Medal.
Sharpe was named Australia's Choice - Wallabies Player of the Year, an award voted by fans over the past three weeks for the Wallabies player they believe to be the most valuable to the side over the past 12-months.
He was also awarded the inaugural Spirit of Rugby - Nick Farr-Jones Award for his services to Rugby. The new award recognises the contribution in a given year made by an active participant in the game - player, referee, coach, administrator or volunteer - at any level.
Named after Australia's first World Cup winning captain, Farr-Jones, the winner of the Spirit of Rugby Award is deemed to be a person who best upholds the ethos and spirit of rugby.
Other award winners:
Michael Hooper - Wallabies Rookie of the Year
Ben Alexander - Try of the Year Award
Dick McGruther OBE - Joe French Award (Services to Rugby)
Ed Jenkins - Sevens Player of the Year
Emilee Cherry - Women's Player of the Year
Curtis Browning - U20s Player of the Year
Steve Walsh - Referee of the Year
Pini - Volunteer of the Year
Allen Gray - Wallabies Ultimate Fan
Comments
Ramage says...
@ Maoriboy pmsl @ your reply to georgesmith. Fully endorse your comments about the REAL George Smith.
@georgesmith well man you dont give up what a mealy mouthed reply not at all gracious. Lets just analyse what you said so it becomes quite clear that you just spew out venom and there is no basis to your comments.
You claim that Sharpe can not claim to be a winner because he doesnt have medals. OK so now you are only a good player if you win. Funny I thought rugby was a team game and all players who were in a winning side were winners and all players who were in a losing side were losers. So that means when Sharpe played in those winning sides he like Smith and Gregan was a winner. Just as when Smith and Gregan played in losing teams they were losers. Your logic is very hard to follow, but then you dont have any. Ponder this in the 2003 RWC Australia LOST to England which according to you makes them LOSERS. Included in that team were your perennial loser Nathan Sharpe. Also there were George Gregan and the real George Smith which of course, according to you, makes them LOSERS.
The point you dont seem to get is that in a team game losing teams can also have winners playing on that day. How often would a losing team not have been humiliated by their opposition if one or two players hadnt stepped up and played outstandingly. Your vile hatred of Nathan Sharpe is there for all to see.
Another conspiratorial theory you state is that Sharpe was only picked because he was a buddy with Robbie Deans and THOSE (lol) at the ARU. Funny wasnt Sharpe the No4 lock at the RWC below Simmons last year. This is now 2012 and time has moved on. Shows how much Sharpe has to offer. If Sharpe was Deans buddy, then why wasnt he playing every game at the RWC.
Ageist comments like calling Sharpe "grandpa" to belittle him is crass. Grandpa is a word of endearment in the English language.
Posted 01:56 03rd November 2012
hobbithunter says...
hybrid187 - the bitter aftertaste of being a kiwi. How predictable.
Posted 18:19 02nd November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
@Georgesmith is actually a computer program. They need to add a few more auto responses to his algorithm. So the comments fit the thread. It will come with technological advance. Certain word combinations trigger his three auto responses and he has a word jumble facility to ajust those three messages.
Posted 14:38 02nd November 2012
pinky says...
I have previously stated that I wanted to see some younger players like Simmons, etc. coming through and believed that Sharpe was passed it..........I eat my words now as he really stepped up in the last few games and lead from the front. He deserves the awards and will hopefully end his career Capataining an unbeaten tour of Europe....he certainly desreves it!!! @georgesmith.....you give my a*rse a headache......
Posted 14:35 02nd November 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
@hybrid187, take your negative criticisms and shove them in your dark place ;)
Posted 11:46 02nd November 2012
NHsaints says...
Great guy, Great season, Great career. Good luck and well deserved Nathan.
Posted 09:51 02nd November 2012
NHsaints says...
Great guy, Great season, Great career. Good luck and well deserved Nathan.
Posted 09:51 02nd November 2012
georgesmith says...
George is the best. Be it, Smith or Gregan. These two are legends because they have winners medals to show for unlike N.Sharpe, who keeps playing Test rugby ahead of better players like R. Simmons because he is a buddy of the coach and those at ARU.
Posted 08:49 02nd November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
@georgesmith! Your name sake is an absolute legend of rugby..He is universally recognized & rated by the rugby worlds media & players. Your ignorance is pretty painful bro...as with a little digging and fact finding one could find out that your namesake has achieved pretty much about the same as Sharpey...including the exact same number (43) in the losses column. Trying to figure out your rhetoric or lack off...and I'm an ignorant stone-age sheep interfering Kiwi.
Posted 06:36 02nd November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
Well deserved award! Pleased for the fella..he's a players player..he properly en-captures all the greatest attributes of a professional rugby player.
@ spartacus- He cant be spitting mad bro..As mad people cannot self diagnose!. Shows you how deep @ georgesmith's "Sharpey is crap" conspiracy theory actually goes! he is so crap that he has managed to hoodwink the top tier of Australian rugby echelon whom are responsible for picking the stated award..may haps they should be seeking advice from a lonely trollish blogger who probably lives with six cats! a 3 legged dog...& maybe even a unicorn! cause as far as rugby no how and acumen go bro you have been proven to be a MYTH!! he he he he he..Keep posting though mate!
Posted 02:41 02nd November 2012
Ramage says...
Well well well fancy this. Nathan Sharpe has won the John Eales Medal. First of all Congratulations to NathanSharpe for he has won the most prestigious award in Australian Rugby. What is so notable is that this award is not voted on by the fans, the public, or some motly crew of know all journalists, but by the players themselves. As well this is the second time he has won it alongside only one other player, namely, the real George Smith whose test record Nathan has eclipsed. I am not an Australian nor a Wallaby supporter but as a rugby follower I can and do appreciate a good player when I see one, even if he does play for the opposition.
Forgive me if I spend a little time ramming this result down the pathetic geoergesmith's throat. This Wallaby traitor has been on here for months bagging and bad mouthing Nathan Sharpe. Nothing Nathan did was any good this tired joke of a rugby fan took every opportunity to slag him in some really vile posts. Take a good look at yourself georgesmith and lets have no more of these ridiculous posts. You have been caught out as knowing absolutely ziltch about the game and have been shown up by the whole Wallaby squad. Its time you packed up your tent and rode off into the sun. Haere, haere, haere.
Posted 23:20 01st November 2012
Uglea says...
Where are ya georgesmith? Might be having that beer with sharpie?
Posted 22:33 01st November 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ new_j4a... no such luck, he's still at it on the Cooper threads, "RDeans worst coach ever" etc.
@ Wallaroo... damn right, JOC & 2 of the 3 Amigos could learn a lot from him, esp the way he's fought his way back after being pretty much sidelined by Deans last year...
Posted 22:24 01st November 2012
georgesmith says...
Grandpa N.Sharpe should consider retirement now. The award to him doesn't make much sense. J. Eales was a hire achiever on the field and he has medals of all-sorts to show for it but does N.Sharpe have any champions or winners medals? No. You don't become a legend or great by the number of Test matches you play rather you need to win Tests and unfortunately N.Sharpe is not a winner in that regard. His winning record especially against top teams is poor. I still feel Wallabies need to invest in younger players like R. Simmons and others.
Posted 22:01 01st November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
What we need now is for the real George Smith to say how he "completely agrees with the great Sharpe achieving such high praise; but credit where it's due... Robbie Deans is also becoming a legend". Just to nail the coffin shut on @georgesmith RIP.
Posted 20:54 01st November 2012
Trinats2 says...
Keep up the sledging georgesmith, try it with a few more Wallabies if this is how they turn out !!!
Posted 20:53 01st November 2012
paulynz says...
The Spirit of Rugby Award couldn't have gone to a more deserving recipient.
Respect...
Posted 18:34 01st November 2012
hybrid187 says...
Ladies and gentleman... I present to you the award for mediocrity...
Actually, in all seriousness, Sharpe was probably the only person I could think of, he's been a good leader, a good Wallaby and probably also because hes the only current one to hold the Bledisloe. Who else was sticking up thier hand for it ?
Maybe shoulda gone to Harris (LOL !!) for guiding you to a win in Argentina and a 'win' against the ABs ?
Posted 18:08 01st November 2012
davodiablo says...
Nicknamed the "George Smith Award"
Posted 17:49 01st November 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
bwaaa ha ha ha ha hey @georgesmith and other anti-N.Sharpe fans, take that with a healthy dose of preperation H.... :)
Posted 16:34 01st November 2012